Our Colemanstown B took on unbeaten Cregmore/Claregalway on Saturday afternoon at home. It was going to be a tough task for Colemanstown as Cregmore/Claregalway were going for their 5th win on the bounce. Colemanstown got off to the worst possible start and conceded early on. However the lads recovered well and did not let this have an impact on the game and equalised almost immediately when Shane Lally won a header from a free and Paul Moore was alert to finish at the back post. This gave Colemanstown a great lift and later on in the half the lads took the lead when Shane Lally neatly finished with the top of his toe after a good ball over the top from Paul Moore.
Colemanstown now started to play good football and created a couple of half chances. They began to play intricately in the centre of the field and looked to use any space in wide areas. David Mullins was tigerish in his defensive role in midfield alongside Paul Moore. Connor Booth and Anthony Keane worked hard on the wings along with Shane Lally and Conor Moran up front. The last kick of the first half resulted in a corner for Cregmore/Claregalway and they scored directly from it after the strong wind took the ball over the outstretched Kerril Lally in goal & although Kerrill did get a paw to it, the ball deflected off the underside of the crossbar & over the goal line. Colemanstown were happy though at the break as they were playing against a strong breeze in the first half.
Cregmore/Claregalway made two changes at half-time and that helped them get more of a foothold in the second half. The back four of Brian Connolly, Steven Broderick, Stephen Lyons and Robert Cosgrove were resolute at the back along with stand in goalkeeper Kerril Lally who made some fine saves to keep Colemanstown in the game. Colemanstown’s big chance of the second half fell to Shane Lally who forced a good save from the Cregmore/Claregalway keeper after some fine work on the left from David Mullins. Substitute Trevor Forde put in a good shift also. Unfortunately, the lack of squad depth and particularly the lack of fresh legs when it mattered most took its toll again and the visitors scored the winner with only a few minutes to go. Colemanstown pushed for an equaliser but it never came. There is potential in this team which was shown in abundance against a very strong side. A draw in this game might have been a fairer result so in reality a loss is not much consolation but then that’s football…… One error or moment of magic always threatens to decide a tight game. We look forward now to Barna/ Furbo next week away.
The club wish young Connor Booth a speedy recovery as he had to retire midway through the first half after suffering a double break to his collarbone. Wishing you all the best in your recovery Connor. You’re speed on the wing will be missed!
Squad: Kerrill Lally, Brian Connolly, Steven Broderick, Stephen Lyons, Robert Cosgrove, Connor Booth, David Mullins, Paul Moore, Anthony Keane, Shane Lally, Conor Moran, Trevor Mullins.
Match Report by Shane Lally